The UK Government must uphold promises to Clyde shipworkers and approve construction of new Royal Navy frigates on the river, a Glasgow MSP has demanded.

Glasgow Anniesland SNP MSP Bill Kidd says it would be a betrayal of "very clear promises" made ahead of the Scottish independence referendum.

Construction of eight new type 26 frigates has been delayed until 2018 amid claims that the Ministry of Defence is strapped for cash. And the Unite Union says that will leave the Clyde shipyards overstaffed for two years.

Mr Kidd has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling on the Conservative government in Westminster to keep its promise.

He said: "Any further delays in the Type 26 programme could have a significant impact on jobs on the Clyde - and the SNP has been absolutely clear that this would be unacceptable. It's now time for the Tories to show that they are willing to stand up for this vital Scottish industry.

"The skills of the workforce on the Clyde are internationally recognised - and I hope that the whole Parliament can get behind common-sense calls for the promises made by the UK Government to be delivered.

"If the very clear promises made to workers on the Clyde by the UK Government before the referendum were to be broken, it would be an unforgivable betrayal to the workforce - and people in Glasgow and across Scotland would not be quick to forget.

"It's time for Ruth Davidson and the Tories to finally make clear whether they will stand up for hardworking shipyard workers - or will they continue to try and defend the indefensible and stand up for a UK Government which has consistently broken their promises to Scotland."

Earlier this week the former first sea lord Admiral Lord West told the Commons Defence Committee that the Ministry of Defence was strapped for cash and accused the Government of not "coming clean" about construction delays. These claims were later rejected by Prime Minister David Cameron.